In honor of the tenth anniversary of LSU Libraries’ first open house, the current and previous committee co-chairs recall memories from the event’s origins up to the present. 

The creation of LSU Libraries’ open house, an event that began modestly and has now grown into one of our largest annual events, was driven by the need to increase awareness among undergraduates of the vast resources and research support the Libraries offers. When Rebecca Kelley, the open house committee chair from 2014-2016, was asked what inspired her to establish it, she informed us that, initially, the idea was to have subject librarians engage with students by hosting information booths at events within their respective colleges. However, since the turnout was dismal, Kelley pivoted to hosting a grander event in the library that would “not only introduce students to their subject librarians but also all the great services and resources [the library] has.”

In the spring of 2014, the first open house featured a Mardi Gras theme in which the Open House Committee “served king cake, passed out Mardi Gras beads, and had Mardi Gras party music playing in the lobby,” Kelley said. These enhancements were a hit, and the library’s administration approved hosting such an event annually. 

Sarah Simms, who served as the committee’s chair in 2017 and co-chair in 2018, credits open house as “the opportunity to really collaborate with folks around the Libraries, setting [her] up for future successful collaborations.” In her mind, “seeing students and librarians interact and the joy that comes from that” was the best part of chairing this special event. 

Later open houses became autumn affairs—timed around midterms, when students were most eager to learn about helpful library services—and adopted a Halloween theme. Kelley noted that the costumes and decorations were one of the best parts of the event. Randa Lopez Morgan, a self-proclaimed “Halloween nerd,” and the committee’s co-chair—and later chair—from 2018-2023, stated that “getting to combine [Halloween] with [her] love of libraries and helping students [was] truly a match made in heaven.” 

Originally, the open houses were indoor celebrations that sprawled throughout the entire library, from the basement to the fourth floor. But as the years passed, significant changes occurred. Morgan oversaw the most dramatic transformations. In 2020, the world changed, altered by the COVID-19 pandemic that left the once-bustling building eerily empty. As LSU’s COVID protocols gradually relaxed and the students returned to campus (but were still “social distancing”), Morgan made the bold decision to take the open house outdoors into the Quad. This made it much more visible to passersby, and as a result, it “reached a different set of students who may have never stepped foot in the [library] building,” Morgan said. 

But it wasn’t just the location that changed. What began as a one-day affair stretched into two, making it easier for busy students to attend. 

According to Morgan, “In the past decade, we have never had to cancel open house. It may have changed formats or locations, but we have managed to showcase our library services and resources to students, even when others could not.”  

At its core, the open house has always been about creating a space where LSU students feel empowered, reminding them that the library is more than a place to study—it’s a key part of their journey to success. This decade-long tradition serves as a reminder that, no matter the challenge, at LSU Libraries our students will find a supportive community ready to help them succeed.

As the new co-chairs, we are deeply grateful for the hard work and dedication of our predecessors who enabled us to seamlessly transition into our roles this year. Looking ahead, we are committed to building on the foundation our predecessors have laid, ensuring the open house continues to be a place where the next generation of Tigers can thrive.

The tenth anniversary will take place on October 30 and 31—Halloween day—and we look forward to continuing this cherished celebration with haunting decorations throughout the first floor of the library and fun appearances from LSU’s beloved Mike the Tiger mascot. We invite students and supporters to don their most unsettling attire and join us, if you dare, in commemorating this truly wonderful festivity.  

Sincerely, 
Larissa Elliott and Elizabeth Long Allen
LSU Libraries’ 2024 Open House Co-Chairs